Donegal is a county full of scenic and historic tourist attraction. It has miles of beautiful coastal scenery and headlands including Slieve League, which has the highest sea cliffs in Europe, and the Bloody Foreland stretch down to windswept deserted beaches. Donegal has particularly rugged mountain ranges and part of the beautiful Derryveagh mountain range is protected in Glenveagh National Park.
The hued landscape contrasts sharply with the vibrant green fields of the Northern Ireland countryside. Donegal has a slow pace of life you can enjoy and relax in. The most recent proliferation of building in the county has been in holiday cottages. The county’s largest town Letterkenny is much smaller than Derry or Belfast.
Donegal has the largest remaining Gaeltacht area where Irish is spoken as the native language: 30,000 people in Donegal still speak fluent Irish.
The county is called Dun na nGall in Irish, meaning fort of the foreigner because Donegal town was a Viking stronghold in the 9th century. The old name was Tir Chonaill, land of Conal, one of the 12 sons of the leader Niall of the Nine Hostages.
Donegal is very much a walking and cycling country. When driving be prepared for one lane tracks, sheep, directions only in Irish, signs hidden behind hedges, signs pointing the wrong way or no signs at all. You can guarantee yourself an adventure and everyone is very friendly and will kindly help you on your way. You can also stop at one of the many small but lively pubs along your way for some banter and craic.
